What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Most people have heard the term deep vein thrombosis. However, if they were asked to describe what the condition is or the effect that the condition has on the body, they may be hard-pressed to do so.

Deep vein thrombosis is a disease that affects your veins, leading to clots forming inside of a vein that is deep inside your body. A blood clot is when blood congeals together and creates a gel-like, semi-solid state inside of the vein.

Most people will have deep vein thrombosis in one of the veins in their leg. The vein may be in their thighs, or it may be around their calf or some other part of the lower leg. This does not eliminate the possibility of deep vein thrombosis developing in other parts of the body, but it is most commonly seen in the legs.

Just about anyone can develop deep vein thrombosis at any stage in their life. That being said, the vast majority of individuals affected by this disease are over the age of 50. Many of these individuals have conditions that affect the way that the blood is flowing in their veins.

One common condition is an injury that damages the veins. When a vein is damaged, it may not be able to transport blood as efficiently as it could prior to the injury, and this results in blood clots forming.

When a person is obese, their risk of developing this disease increases because their extra weight puts excessive pressure on the veins, especially the veins that are in the legs and in the pelvis. Deep vein thrombosis is a disease that follows hereditary patterns. This means that if your parents, your grandparents or other individuals in your family have a history of deep vein thrombosis, it is likely that you will develop the condition at some point in your life.

Researchers have seen a link between deep vein thrombosis and using birth control pills or undergoing hormone replacement therapy. Smoking seems to increase the risk of people developing deep vein thrombosis. There is definitely a link between the amount that a person smokes and their risk of developing this disorder. The more you smoke, the more likely it is that you will deal with it.

If a person has a sedentary lifestyle or if they spend long hours sitting while at work, traveling by plane or just lounging around the house, they increase their risk of developing this condition. This is especially true if an individual already has some of the other above-mentioned risk factors.

Other factors that might increase the chances of you developing deep vein thrombosis include surgery, especially if the surgery is on your lower extremities. It is often seen connected to joint replacement surgery. Pregnancy is another factor that might increase your chances of dealing with this condition.

If you think you may have this condition, make an appointment at Canada Vein Clinics right away. The sooner you seek professional treatment, the better. For your convenience, we have offices in Toronto, Richmond Hill, Ottawa, Kanata, Orleans, Vaughan, Kawartha Lakes, Dartmouth, Halifax and Moncton. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!